Journal box



Dec. 17, 1935 H. E. MUcHNxc v I 2,@2467 JOURNAL BOX Filed Jan. 17, 1955 ya Iy f5 (wir Inlfen .r i L Y. 7,? Mm? Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE J OURNAL BOX Application January 17, 1935, Serial No. 2,190

2 Claims.

My invention pertains to railroad truck boxes or journal boxes and relates more particularly to the provision of a hardened portion in the top or roof of the journal box adapted to resist the frictional contact of the wedge or key usually employed to keep the brass in position on the journal.

The invention in its specic embodiments contemplates the provision of a hardened steel plate which is preferably removably secured in or to the roof of the box and adapted to receive the wear producing action of the usual key or wedge; the plate being immovably held in place.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be more readily comprehended from the following description of the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a journal box provided with an embodiment of my inven tion and with the end of a journal in elevation.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail of a portion of the roof or top of a journal box illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of a portion of the roof of a journal box illustrating another modication of the invention.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Figure 5.

My invention has for its purpose the provision of a construction whereby the life of a journal box will be greatly prolonged.

In practice, the greatest wear takes place in the roof portion of the journal box Where the key or wedge member, which is wedgingly arranged between the brass and the roof or top of the box, exerts its constant frictional bearing on or shifting contact with the inner surface of the top of the journal box. The constant rubbing action of the key or wedge member soon causes the top or roof portion of the journal box to become so Worn that it is necessary to scrap the entire box even though the rest of the box is still in serviceable condition.

This rubbing action on the roof of the box causes the wedge or key to partially embed itself in the roof of the box.

This prevents the wedge or key having the proper rocking movement and results in hot bearings due to the fact that the bearing cannot align itself automatically with the journal.

Originally, journal boxes were made of gray iron and latter of malleable iron, but they all possess the disadvantage that they become Worn making it necessary to discard them.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a journal box provided With a hardened steel por- 5` tion or insert adapted to withstand this constant rictional action ofthe key or wedge member without, however, materially increasing the cost and without in any way departing from the standard or accepted construction and specified 10 requirements.

In the specific embodiment of the invention as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, the wear resisting portion or element comprises a flat plate Iii of suitable thickness and size; with certain of 15 the edges tapered or beveled as shown at Il. In the particular exempliiication, three of the edges of the plate are beveled as evident in Figure 2 taken substantially at right angles to Figure l.

The top or roof I2 of the journal box I3 on 20 its inner surface is provided With a pocket open at one end which is produced by the opposingly disposed or inwardly sloping anges l. The flanges I4 are of size commensurate with the thickness of the plate to be used and the flanges 25 are arranged to constitute a three-sided socket or pocket so as to permit the plate IIJ to be endwisely slid into place, namely from the outer end or the left hand side of the box as viewed in Figure l. The flanges hi are shown formed 30 integral with the journal box top or roof, but it Will be understood that the flanges may' be secured in place in any other manner as might be the case in the application of my invention to an old type of journal box. 35

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dove-tailed relation between the plate or insert l0 and the walls of the pocket securely holds the plate in close association with the roof of the journal box; and in order that the plate or insert III 40 cannot shift endwisely out of the pocket, I provide the rivet-pin I5. This pin I5 may be inserted through a small hole formed in the roof of the journal box with its head countersunk as shown and the end of the pin disposed across 45 the unbeveled end of the insert or plate IU as very clearly shown in Figure 1. With the pin I5 in this position it is apparent that the plate l0 cannot shift or move out of its pocket.

As shown in Figure l, the key or wedge mem- 50 ber I6 is wedgingly disposed between the top or roof I2 of the journal box I3 and the brass I1. The tops of the keys or wedge members are generally made slightly arcuate as seen in Figure 1; and heretofore these wedge members have been 55 in direct contact with the top or roof proper of the journal box, exerting a wearing action on the roof, causing the latter to become so worn that the journal box had to be discarded regardless of its general condition. With the insert or plate I of comparative size, the top surface of theV wedge member I6 is in direct contact with the plate I0 and exerts its .wear producing action on the plate I0 which preferably is made of hardened steel and hence better adapted to resist the Wearing action. On the other hand,V if the plate or insert should become worn, it may be readily replaced by another upon simply removing the intercepting rivet-pin I5.

Instead of employing the method of holding the insert or plate as heretofore described, other methods of securing the insert may be employed. For example, in Figures 3 and 4:,V I show the main portion of the journal box roof I2 on its inner surface with a rectangular depression or socket I8 adaptedvto receive the rectangular plate or insert I9 which is preferably made of hardened steel. The top wall I2 of the journal box and the plate I9 are provided with a pair of registering apertures for the rivets 20, v20 VWhose ends are made ilush as shown in Figure 3.

The plate I9., like plate I0, is of sufficient thickness and size to cover or Contact with the Ventire friction producing surface ofk the wedge or key member I6. Y Y

In Figures and 6 another method is shown in so far as securing the Wear'resisting insert or hardened steel plate 2Iris concerned. The inside surface of the top or roof I2 of the journal box, like the structure shown in Figure 3, is provided with a countersunk portion or depression. The plate or insert 2l and the Walls about the depression are preferably chamfered to provide a proper weld as shown at 22, thus eliminating the use of pins or rivets; the Weld 22 being preferably a continuous weld as shown in Figure 6.

I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention which contem- 5 plate a journal box with a roofvportion made of wear resisting material, or provided with a plate or insrt of metal harder than that which it would be practicable to use in making the entire box; the Wear resisting characteristic being obtained without entailing an excessive and therefore undesirable cost.

Instead of exemplications shown and described, the invention might have expression Yin different form Without, however, departing from l5 the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:-

1. A journal box, the top whereof is provided with an aperture whilethe roof on the inner side is provided with a three-sided socket or pocket open at bottom and toward the outer end of the journal box, the three side walls of the pocket being beveled, a hardened steel plate adapted to be endwisely inserted in said pocket, three edges of the plate being tapered to corre- 25` spond with the bevel of the pocket side walls. to provide an interengaging sliding relation, and a pin insertible through said aperture and adapted to hold the plate against movement.

2. In a journal box the top whereof on the inner side is provided with a pocket open at the lower side and at the end disposed toward the outer end of the journal box, a hardened steel plate endwisely insertible in the pocket through said open end, and removable means secured to the top whereby the plate is held against longitudinal movement.

HENRYE. MUCHNIC. 

